The main topic of this issue is Tupolev Tu-144 Charger Soviet Supersonic Airliner. The Tu-144 was one of only two first-generation supersonic transports (the other being the Anglo-French Concorde) to go into actual production and commercial service. The sleek, double-delta-winged craft was the brainchild of famed Russian aircraft designer Andrei N. Tupolev, who oversaw the development of the Tu-144 as general designer. The prototype Tu-144 was first flown on Dec. 31, 1968, about two months before the competing Concorde prototype took to the air. Also in this issue present a very interesting article about Yakovlev Yak-44 carrier-borne twin-turboprop engined Soviet Navy AEW aircraft (similar to the US E-2 Hawkeye).